Home Winter exhibitions at Confederation Centre Art Gallery explore Canadian life, social issues, and communal experiences

Winter exhibitions at Confederation Centre Art Gallery explore Canadian life, social issues, and communal experiences

Kim Morgan, installation view of (left to right) Room SettingSigh, ink on polyester taffeta, two electric fans on timers, 396.3 x 1219.2 cm (396.3 x 792.5 cm installed at DAG), SEM images of blood cells magnified c. 10,000x, and Dust Ball (belly button) intervention, 2022. Photo: Steve Farmer

January 28, 2025 – New exhibitions featuring a wide range of artworks by Canadian artists are on view this winter at Confederation Centre Art Gallery. The public is invited to view the exhibitions at the Winter Gallery Opening on Saturday, February 1 at 7 p.m. Guests will enjoy light refreshments, live music, and a cash bar. ⁠

“These exhibitions feature works covering nearly a century of Canadian art, and highlight several diverse approaches to art making,” says Kevin Rice, director of Confederation Centre Art Gallery. “Openings are a wonderful opportunity to connect with friends while checking out the exhibitions, and we invite everyone to join us.”

George Pepper (1903 – 1962), Tobacco Patch, 1933, oil on board, 30.4 x 35.5 cm, Gift of the Estate of Kathleen Daly, Toronto, ON, 1994, CAG 94.5.10

Kathleen Daly and George Pepper: The Land and its People
For over three decades following their marriage in 1929, Kathleen Daly and George Pepper crisscrossed Canada, capturing its people and its landscapes in paintings and drawings. Like the Group of Seven—whose influence can be seen in their sense of line and compositional rhythm—they were interested in the unique character of the country, but Daly and Pepper emphasized its people and their ways of life, rather than an idealized wilderness. Both artists were known for the empathy of their portraits of Canada’s inhabitants, and a concern for social issues common to many prominent artists working in the 1930s. This exhibition features a selection of paintings and works on paper that document Canadian life from Alberta to Newfoundland to Quebec and the North.

Kim Morgan: Blood and Breath, Skin and Dust
This exhibition presents the human body as you might never have thought about it before. Halifax-based, interdisciplinary artist Kim Morgan began exploring scanning electron microscopy (SEM) while her mother was facing terminal cancer, requiring many blood transfusions. Captivated by the tiny universe of vibrant matter that SEM revealed—and convinced of the expressive potential in using magnified images of human blood to consider physical and socio-cultural realities—Morgan embarked on this series of immersive installations, sculptures, and videos. Curated by Susan Gibson Garvey, organized and circulated by the Dalhousie Art Gallery.

This Seems Personal
In the intricate tapestry of human existence, the threads of personal experiences and societal issues are tightly interwoven. Whether grappling with issues of race, gender, mental health, or environmental sustainability, the artists featured here remind us that no aspect of human existence exists in isolation. Featured artists include: Curtis Botham, Lux Gow-Habrich, Laura Kenney, Shauna MacLeod, Andrew Quon, Monique Silver, and Miya Turnbull. Curated by Brandt Eisner, supported by RBC Foundation.

Views from Below
This exhibition presents irreverent works from Confederation Centre Art Gallery’s collection that undercut the exclusivity and self-seriousness of high culture. Featured artists deploy various ways to knock sacred cows off their pedestals—from absurdist humour to “low” imagery drawn from mass culture to sculptures made with a chainsaw. Enjoy the flying pigs and vegetable-eating crocodiles! The exhibition features works by Rebecca Burke, Donnalee Downe, Michael Fernandes, and more. Curated by Pan Wendt.

The Winter Galley opening is free to attend, and no registration is required. Visit confederationcentre.com/artgallery for information on all events and exhibitions at Confederation Centre Art Gallery.

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Media Contact:
Emily McMahon, Communications Manager, Confederation Centre of the Arts
[email protected] | 902-628-6135